BMC's Dial-a-Pothole Service

khanak · 24th May 2008, 05:36

Quote:

Anxious not to face flak from Mumbaikars this year for potholes during the rains, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has, for the first time, introduced a toll-free number 1916 where citizens can call in to report on potholes in their area. The BMC has promised that a pothole will be filled within 24 hours of a call being made.

According to D L Shinde, chief engineer at BMC's road department, the toll-free number will be operational within a week. "Citizens can just dial 1916, and the pothole will be gone in 24 hours flat. A complaint made by a citizen will be immediately forwarded to the concerned ward officer, who will then ask the contractor who has worked on roads in the area to tackle the problem at once," he said.

Contractors who fail to fill the craters in 24 hours will have to pay a penalty of Rs 1,000 per day for the delay, he added.

Shinde said the helpline was necessary as the current procedure for lodging a complaint about potholes was cumbersome. At present, a citizen has to go to the ward office and submit a letter to the ward officer, who then forwards it to the road engineer of the ward. The engineer then asks the contractor to fill the pothole.

Last year, the civic body filled up 13,200 potholes at a cost of Rs 27 crore but received criticism for the pace of its work. In 2006, there were 43,000 potholes on the city's roads, and BMC spent Rs 21 crore to get rid of them.

This year, the corporation has earmarked Rs 25 crore for repairs of bad patches. According to civic officials, the cost of filling up a 1x1 metre patch is approximately Rs 600.

Tardeo Junction, Lamington Road, Cateria Marg (Mahim) and H L Raheja Marg in Mahim are some areas where the problem of potholes is acute.

Shinde pointed out that the BMC will also do a third-party audit of the work of contractors during monsoon, and those who do shoddy work will have a part of their payment deducted.

Contractors however are unhappy. “We are also human beings. The BMC should not be harsh on us. We hope new carbon technology brought in from South Africa will help us fill up potholes in quick time,” a contractor who did not wish to be named said.

Source - Mumbai News - Mumbai Mirror Online - Dial a pothole, we’ll fill it up in 24 hrs: BMC, COVER STORY, Mumbai News, Mumbai newspaper,Current Affairs,Latest news,Mumbai Directory,City Portal,Mumbai,city,Bombay,destination,Web,Internet ,website,Capital of M

Sahil · 24th May 2008, 10:15

brilliant idea, but only time will tell its effectiveness

diabloo · 21st August 2008, 23:56

Spot & Report a pothole and get Rs 1000 !!!

THE POLITICS OF POTHOLES

khanak · 22nd August 2008, 00:05

The roads had become really bad during the monsoon though there has been quite an effort to mend the potholes during the last 2-3 days. The roads are still crap but not as bad as before/

sammyboy · 22nd August 2008, 00:09

Fantastic initiative. Bangalore also needs something like this, and fast.

iraghava · 22nd August 2008, 00:10

I think the more pertinent question here should be, what are they going to repair the potholes with?? If it's a temporary fix then what's the point??

khanak · 22nd August 2008, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

I think the more pertinent question here should be, what are they going to repair the potholes with?? If it's a temporary fix then what's the point??

They've been using those brick tiles used in buildings and for sidewalks. Its a lot better than when they just filled a pothole with stones and would come back a few days later to fill it with tar.

nipunkul · 22nd August 2008, 00:22

if they do this in blr, first phone lines will get clogged, then the roads, because the guys coming in to fill will take most of the road space, seeing how narrow most are!

normally_crazy · 22nd August 2008, 08:53

This news deserves to be in the Official Joke Thread.

amtak · 22nd August 2008, 09:01

The area where I live, if you spot a road, the Municipality should be awarded. I have stopped riding my bike for the last 3 weeks due to the fear of falling on the "road" and being crushed under some big vehicle.

GTO · 22nd August 2008, 12:59

Absolute rubbish! This is nothing but a PR gimmick for all the flack that the BMC is getting for terrible roads. If their commitment is, indeed, in place, why do they need a phone call from us? Let them drive around any part of Mumbai, especially the 'burbs', and they'll encounter more potholes than they can count. On tuesday night, I drove over the newly opened flyover next to the domestic airport. Brand new flyover, my foot.....it had potholes at the very start

.

24th May 2008, 10:15	#2
Sahil Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 6,322 Thanked: 7,766 Times	brilliant idea, but only time will tell its effectiveness
	() Thanks

21st August 2008, 23:56	#3
diabloo BANNED Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bengalooru Posts: 1,480 Thanked: 17 Times	Spot & Report a pothole and get Rs 1000 !!! THE POLITICS OF POTHOLES
	() Thanks

22nd August 2008, 00:05	#4
khanak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai/Toronto Posts: 2,800 Thanked: 270 Times View My Garage	The roads had become really bad during the monsoon though there has been quite an effort to mend the potholes during the last 2-3 days. The roads are still crap but not as bad as before/
	() Thanks

22nd August 2008, 00:09	#5
sammyboy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ggn/Dehradun Posts: 1,842 Thanked: 523 Times View My Garage	Fantastic initiative. Bangalore also needs something like this, and fast.
	() Thanks

22nd August 2008, 00:10	#6
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 8,033 Thanked: 272 Times View My Garage	I think the more pertinent question here should be, what are they going to repair the potholes with?? If it's a temporary fix then what's the point??
	() Thanks

22nd August 2008, 00:22	#8
nipunkul BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 119 Thanked: 16 Times	if they do this in blr, first phone lines will get clogged, then the roads, because the guys coming in to fill will take most of the road space, seeing how narrow most are!
	() Thanks

22nd August 2008, 08:53	#9
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,369 Thanked: 537 Times View My Garage	This news deserves to be in the Official Joke Thread.
	() Thanks

22nd August 2008, 09:01	#10
amtak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai - The city of Sea Link!!! Posts: 2,932 Thanked: 952 Times View My Garage	The area where I live, if you spot a road, the Municipality should be awarded. I have stopped riding my bike for the last 3 weeks due to the fear of falling on the "road" and being crushed under some big vehicle.
	() Thanks

22nd August 2008, 12:59	#11
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,525 Thanked: 309,648 Times View My Garage	Absolute rubbish! This is nothing but a PR gimmick for all the flack that the BMC is getting for terrible roads. If their commitment is, indeed, in place, why do they need a phone call from us? Let them drive around any part of Mumbai, especially the 'burbs', and they'll encounter more potholes than they can count. On tuesday night, I drove over the newly opened flyover next to the domestic airport. Brand new flyover, my foot.....it had potholes at the very start .
	() Thanks